Barnard Camp-Holly House

In the early 1920s, students began spending weekends at various campsites, hoping for some time away from the pressures of New York City. With the success of these weekends, many people began petitioning for a permanent camp that the college could call its own. Barnard alumnae eventually raised enough money to purchase ten acres of land in Westchester County, only 36 miles from the college itself.

Barnard Camp’s formal opening took place on October 15, 1933, quickly becoming a popular weekend destination for students and alumnae alike. Visitors stayed in a cabin where they cooked their own meals, pumped their own water, and slept in bunk beds in stove-heated rooms. During its early years, students could take part in the annual June Camp Training Course, where six students each from the freshman, sophomore, and junior classes could learn various leadership skills. Some June course participants would then be chosen to become members of Barnard’s camp committee, helping plan camp weekends.The camp grew to 20 acres of land in 1938 after an additional alumnae purchase. In 1964, honoring the retirement of Physical Education Department chairman Margaret Holland, Barnard Camp’s cabin was officially named “Holly House”.

Camp popularity began to fade by the mid 1950s, with the 1961-1962 camp report stating that “apparently few are interested in spending a weekend of group living with girls, especially when there are chores and some discomfort”. In response, the camp committee attempted to modernize its facilities; however, the college’s budget meant that the plan was not feasible for the time being. Other difficulties also may have detracted students in following years, such as a problem with stray dogs on a neighboring property in 1974. Barnard Camp was sold in 1992, though the reason why is not entirely clear. Barnard Archive’s collection contains materials from the camp’s initial planning and fundraising through 1980, twelve years before the camp was sold.